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Friday, April 11, 2014

A TREKKIE’S TAKE ON THE TREK TO PUBLICATION

A TREKKIE’S TAKE ON THE TREK TO PUBLICATION

By Sharon Srock

I grew up in the late sixties and early
seventies. Long before I was a writer, I was a serious Star Trek fan. I don’t
think it was their intention to teach writing principles with the show, but some
of their stuff translates nicely. Let’s explore a new universe.

Our
mission: Seek out new life and new civilizations.

“Everybody walks past a thousand story ideas every day. The
good writers are the ones who see five or six of them. Most people don’t see
any.” ~ Orson Scott Card (1951-), American authorWriters should be people watchers, Internet
browsers, and readers. Your next story idea could be waiting in the next
gesture, word, headline, or newspaper. I’m not saying you need to eavesdrop or
spend hours buried in the paper or Internet, but if you’re stuck, it doesn’t
hurt to browse and see if something sparks your imagination.

Non-interference
is our prime directive.

We’re all Christian authors, but our beliefs
stretch from Amish and Catholic to Baptist and Pentecostal and every spot in
between. Write, share God’s love in your stories, but don’t use those stories
as a pulpit to bash people over the head. Allow God’s love to shine in your
writing, and it will do more than a specific doctrine ever could.

Keep
your phasers set on stun.

Anyone here know what a phaser set on
disrupt does to its target? Yep, from solid object to vapor in a blink, and all
you have left is a memory. That’s a good lesson to keep in mind when you’re
editing. Go easy on the delete key. I prefer a file full of cut scenes that can
be used later in some form or fashion than my faulty memory about the brilliant
scene I wrote once that didn’t fit then, but sure would now. Stun ‘em, don’t
vaporize them.

Humans
are highly illogical.

This is Spock’s Vulcan opinion on the
multifaceted emotional state of the human race. Illogical to him, beneficial to
us. As writers to a human audience we need to learn to twist every last drop of
emotion out of our stories. We need to take our characters through the gamut of
emotional highs and lows. Love and hate, sorrow and joy, terror and calm.
Because humans love that stuff. It isn’t logical, but it is why we read.

Having
is not so pleasing as wanting; it is highly illogical, but often true.

As unpublished authors we look at the lucky
ones and we want to be just like them when we grow up. I want to caution you
not to wish for too much too soon. If you think your life is busy now, wait
till you add in edits, deadlines, and marketing. A raw idea for a new book in
your head, edits on a contracted one due back on a deadline, all while
promoting the one that just realeased… Day job, kids, spouse, home, church…

It’s busy, it’s confusing, it will take over
your life if you let it. You will wonder what you’ve gotten yourself in to. I’m
not complaining, it can be very satisfying, but you do need to be prepared.

Infinite
Diversity in Infinite Combinations.

IDIC, it’s what we do. We take men and
women, boys and girls, from every walk of life, race, income bracket, belief
system, and we weave them together into stories that shouldn’t work, but they
do. Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. Life would be boring without
it.

Their mutual hatred of each other is so
unexpected and so illogical ... and so entertaining.Use the little, unexpected things to stir up trouble for
your big things.

Enemies
are often invisible — like Klingons they can be cloaked.

Even the Bible bears this out. A wolf in
sheep’s clothing. Our enemies are often disguised as good things. An Internet
presence and all the little time consuming bits and pieces that go with it,
events, public speaking, marketing, promotion, all to be mixed in with those
things we mentioned earlier—family,
home, school, church, jobs. No one can do it all. What works for me won’t work
for you and vice versa. I know writers who have pretty much given up their online
presence in favor of spending time with their families. Despite the hype, I’ve
avoided Pinterest like a plague, I just don’t have the time for one more thing.
I know some writers that spend all day with their marketing plan. There is no
right or wrong way. Find what works for you, learn to say no to what doesn’t,
and watch out for the hidden traps and distractions.

When
your logic fails, trust a hunch.

Critique is a good thing, but don’t let the
logical voice of a fellow writer override your gut.

Sometimes that little voice in our head is
smarter than we give it credit for.

Listen closely.

Insufficient
data does not compute.

Do your research or your readers will do it
for you. Just sayin’.

Even in
our own world, sometimes we are alien.

Groups and loops and
organizations. Writers are special. Seek out some like-minded people and become
one of them.

When going out into the Universe, remember: "Boldly go where no one
has gone before."

Go boldly. The whole idea behind
Star Trek—to boldly go. It isn’t enough to sit at our desks and write
our stories. We have to submit them, we have to sit across the table from
agents and editors and talk about them.For a newbie, that’s scary. But why else are we writing? Go boldly. Stretch your comfort zone.
Learn to sit in front of a room full of people and talk about your newest story
with a smile plastered on your face and sweat running down your back. No one in
the room can eat you, and it’ll be over before you know it. Go
boldly!

GIVEAWAY:

Leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of Sharon's latest book, The Women of Valley View: Pam.

ABOUT THE WOMEN OF VALLEY VIEW: PAM

Pam’s divorce broke her heart. The cruelty of her ex-husband broke her
spirit. A bottle of sleeping pills almost took her life. Four years later the
scars of Alan Archer’s emotional abuse are beginning to fade under the love of
her new husband. When Alan returns to Garfield, Pam must learn that buried
secrets and carefully cultivated indifference do not equal forgiveness.

Alan Archer has returned to Garfield with a new wife and a terminal
heart condition. His mission? To leave a Christian legacy for his children and
to gain Pam’s forgiveness for the sins of his past.

Two hearts hang in the balance waiting for the delicate touch of God’s
healing hands.Buy Women of Valley View: Pam at AMAZON, B&N, and PELICAN BOOK GROUP.

Author Sharon Srock went from science fiction to Christian fiction at
slightly less than warp speed. Twenty-five years ago, she cut her writer's
teeth on Star Trek fiction. Today,
she writes inspirational stories that focus on ordinary women using their faith
to accomplish extraordinary things.

Sharon lives in the middle of nowhere Oklahoma with her husband and
three very large dogs. Her books include: The
Women of Valley View: Callie and The
Women of Valley View: Terri, both of which are currently available. The Women of Valley View: Pam will
release April 11, 2014.

101 comments:

Sharon...I never watched Star Trek, but even so, your post is great...even for a reader! Thanks for coming. I really want to read Pam's story!Too hot to bake today,or yesterday,but never too hot for coffee!

Thanks For a fun post, Sharon! I wasn't a Star Trek fan but I loved when it came on—I knew when it was on that I had a short time of quiet for myself—my two kids wouldn't have missed Star Trek for anything!

"We’re all Christian authors, but our beliefs stretch from Amish and Catholic to Baptist and Pentecostal and every spot in between. Write, share God’s love in your stories, but don’t use those stories as a pulpit to bash people over the head. Allow God’s love to shine in your writing, and it will do more than a specific doctrine ever could."

Well said, Sharon. Thanks for sharing. And by the way, folks, I'm one of the lucky ones who got to read Pam before it released, and it's excellent. You'll love it.

SHARON!!! WELCOME TO SEEKERVILLE, my friend, and I'm laughing right now because I just sent you an email saying you are live. LOL ... now I find out it's ME who's not a"live," so forgive me for sleeping in ... AGAIN!! Getting a house ready to sell/move is WAY too taxing for this little wimp!!

Sharon, I put the links in just now for your book, so forgive me for the delay. Just ANOTHER example of a brain buried under (by mulch! Shopping/landscaping are on the agenda today!!).

Coffee's on because as Marianne says, it's never too hot for coffee. I've got every Keurig flavor known to man, so dive in. And since Fridays are supposed to be easy, no hot kitchen for me -- donuts and kringles on the table along with fresh fruit. Bon appetit!

I am so glad that I have joined in with Seekerville. All these blogs are filled with so much great wisdom and knowledge. Yes, there IS a difference between the two! A person can have all the knowledge that books can provide, but if they don't have the wisdom how to best use that knowledge, they are nothing. As a newbie writer, I gain from all of you and look forward to each of these blogs, this one included.

Living with a Trekkie Fan for a husband and children that have grown up with it (I think my oldest has become an even bigger Trekkie) I have had no choice but to see most of the shows (and Star Wars too), and The Trouble with Tribbles is my favorite. Thanks for the memories, and showing us how to incorporate these lessons into our writing. (And I need to concentrate on the stun gun--going to have to start that file of deleted scenes!)

Lastly, I love that you are dealing with tough subjects in your writing--I have a couple of those in the works as well. Please enter me for your giveaway and thanks for the free novella.Vicki

Being the wife of a longtime Trekkie, I've heard these words many times, but never applied them to my writing. Very funny! Now I'll certainly think of Tribbles in terms of conflict and GO BOLDLY ! Thanks, Sharon!

Sharon - I love your post! I'm much more fond of Tribbles than Klingons. I'm cant wait to get my hands on my copy of Pam. Your books are so full of God's love and how He works in people's lives. Definitely a recommend to everyone!

Wonderful post , Sharon. While I have never been a Star Trek fan, the advice you listed is very true.

JULIE!!!! You're getting a house packed and ready to move too???? I actually finished most of mine a couple of weeks ago, but I so know what you're going through. Treat yourself to some chocolate ice cream when you're finished. It'll make the whole world seem better. Oh, and while you're eating it, you should probably be people watching, per Ruthy's advice. :)

LOVE the Star Trek analogies!! As a newby I'm terrified of sitting across the table from editors, etc. I will remember GO BOLDLY when I face a situation that I dread (and Kirk/Spock et al have wicked senses of humor)!

I'm not a Trekkie, but I'm like Ruthy in that I had a secret crush on Capt. Kirk! LOL

Oh, and I also have to say that I'm afraid I can't follow your rule not to eaves drop! I've been known to do that a time or two in a restaurant when someone was talking too loud (see, it was their fault!). And I got story ideas like crazy. :)

I have always struggled with Insomnia and for years I played these head games of memorizing things while I lay awake. (later I started writing!)The fifty states and their capitols, states in alphabetical order.The PresidentsBooks of the BibleAnd at one time--I had memorized every episode of Star Trek.79. I couldn't do it anymore but for a long long time I could and I wasn't reading a list and memorizing it, I was scrolling through my memory and thinkingThe One with Spock's ParentsThe One with the entity who wanted to keep the ManThe Trouble with TribblesThe One where the steal Spock's BrainThe One where Kirk goes back in timeI could do them ALL...which is just such a stinking waste of time, right?But I loved that show.

Myra, i got the same note when i submitted my novel to whatever pubishing comoany was doing all the novels back in the day. The sad part...most of the fan fiction was better than the traditionally published stuff.

LOL, MARY--we broke every rule in the book. We were such ignorant dorky teenagers and knew ZILCH about submitting a TV script, much less formatting it. We basically just sent what I suppose they would call a "treatment."

I hadn't thought about this in forever, but I guess it qualifies as the first story I ever submitted. And my first rejection. :(

Sharon, a woman after my own heart. A trekkie! Welcome to my world. I was born after Star Trek's original run, but I used to watch the re-runs with my dad, and of course I'm one who followed The Next Generation avidly. Still do.

One thing I thought of as you were listing all the things that could be learned from Star Trek, is this:TO BOLDLY GO where no man has gone before-- the most famous split infinitive phrase ever (and one that everyone recognizes), but it works! My translation- it's okay to break the rules occasionally as long as it works.If you're too set on following rules, you could miss the spontaneous creativity of writing.

What a timely post!! I have been MIA for a week or so due to my MIL having lung surgery due to lung cancer. It's my turn to spend the night with her at the hospital. Whenever I got here tonight, there was a guard posted at the door of the room beside my MIL. My brain immediately started thinking about all the things that could go wrong with the prisoner being next door! And I got an idea for a new story.

Imamgine my surprise whenever I finally was able to visit Seekerville and find this post:)))). Story ideas are everywhere. This idea will have to be put away for a bit while I finish the WIP I'm working on but how fun it will be to come back to whenever I'm ready :))))

SHARON ... thanks SO much for taking such good care of my sandbox today -- you rock, girlfriend!!

And, CRYSTAL ... oh, man, this is real work, isn't it? Every bone in my body aches tonight after spending the day in the yard, raking mulch, digging/planting bushes, planting flower pots. And I'm 3X as old as you, girlfriend, so it's 3X as bad!! :|

Julie, Thanks again for this chance to visit with Seekerville's readers. It's been a blast! I'm so glad I figured out how to do this stuff on my Kindle, I would never have caught up with it once I got home. Get some rest today my friend.

OH. MY. GOODNESS. I thought I was seeing my twin when I clicked over to this link a friend sent me and saw your picture. And a Trekker too. This is too spocky . . . I mean spooky! I'm first-gen ST.

I learned to write by watching ST. I mean, honestly, you could write a new post about "Forget the writer's books, just watch Star Trek." It's got the entire novel right there:The HOOK--2 minute opening sceneThe ACTS--(chapters) each ending on a cliff hanger so you don't change the channelThe CLIMAX--will our heroes survive yet another alien encounter?The SOLUTION--with a touch of character humor.

How is this not the model for every great fiction novel? It was my model from childhood on. Like you, I went from writing Star Trek (and still dabble when I'm tried of meeting contract deadlines) to writing Christian Fiction for kids (16 books). But Star Trek will always be my favorite stuff to write.

Best post I've read in two galaxies . . . especially the part about "Having is not so . . ." because writing used to be fun! Not so much any longer, with all those deadlines, edits, and new ideas exploding. ~ Susan Marlow (the Blogger name is my character's)Live Long And Prosper!